Although I am not related by blood to the Tompkins or Lear families of Ralls County, Missouri I research these families in honor of my Great Aunt Mallie Pearl Tompkins Laird. There are no descendants for her husband, herself or any of her siblings. My goal is that her family not be forgotten. The surnames I work on for my Aunt Mallie's family are Tompkins, Lear, some Strode and some Maddox.

Wm GrantI think you are correct Wm is NOT AT THE BOTTOM the stone. I will have to go back and study it more carefully.

I will take the picture down on Find a Grave.

I recently probed for more stones and had no luck in the Grant or McDaniel section. They are just one row apart in the back center of the cemetery. There are obviously unmarked graves on either side of Phoebe McDaniel and in the line with Susan Grant and the Birgs.

RE: Elgin R. JenningsIf I remember right Elgin was cremated. His ashes are under the marker. I remember him. One of the Frankford "Jennings Clan" Funny guy, but one not to be messed with if you made an enemy of him. Kinda small in stature, wirey. Good man, but his smoking put him where he is now. My mother's sister married into the Jennings family when she married Ivan Dewey Jennings. He ran the Opry in Frankford for many years. He lives with Aunt Edna in Nashville, TN. now. He is in poor health as well; diabetes is doing him in.

RE: WoollenTwo Harbors is 26 miles East of Duluth. It is a lovely town. I work for the CN railroad that services both the Two Harbors Docks and the Duluth Docks, as well as the mines in Northern MN.

Old New London is just to the west of the on- ramp to HWY 19 from Hwy 61. There is a grove of trees just off the ramp with the power lines, DOT right of way, cable TV, telephone, and whatever else buried right through it. When they made the right of way for the power, they bulldozed the stones out of the way and laid them in the fence row. Some are visible from the on ramp, but you have to go slow and know where to look. It is disgraceful. I'll let you know how the campaign goes.

RE: 1st Lt. Leigh SlatesMy pleasure. Glad you and the family enjoy them. I sent additional photos of LT Slates to your email. Believe me when I say that he was an American hero. He earned 7 Air Medals....almost unheard of! Would love to see you update his bio with more info about him. Take care,